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BTS won Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards in Las Vegas on the 25th (local time), claiming the honor for a second time and reaffirming their status among the world’s most influential acts.
After first breaking through with the 2021 English single “Butter,” the group repeated the feat this year—just two months after releasing ARIRANG, their fifth album that incorporates traditional Korean elements.
Industry watchers are now asking whether that momentum can carry into the one major U.S. award that has long eluded them: the Grammy Awards.
BTS first won the AMA’s Artist of the Year in November 2021, the first Asian act to do so, and reclaimed the title four years and six months later. No other Korean—or Asian—artist has won the AMA’s top prize twice.
That the ceremony was held in Las Vegas—the heart of U.S. tourism and show business—and that an all-Korean group bested heavyweights such as Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber adds extra weight to the victory.
Along with the Grammys and the Billboard Music Awards, the AMAs are considered one of the three major U.S. popular-music ceremonies. They are generally viewed as reflecting popular support more than some other honors.
The AMA website says winners are determined entirely by fan votes; nominee selection, however, factors in streaming and album sales, radio airplay and touring revenue.
Attention now turns to the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, the music industry’s most prestigious ceremony, scheduled for Feb. 7 in Los Angeles.
Since rising to global stardom and topping Billboard’s singles and albums charts, BTS has taken home trophies at major U.S. shows—including the AMAs, the Billboard Music Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards—but the Grammys have remained out of reach.
Unlike awards that emphasize commercial success and popularity, the Grammys rely on roughly 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy—musicians and industry professionals—who are known for strict standards when assessing musical excellence.
BTS received nominations in three consecutive ceremonies—the 63rd through the 65th—in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category for songs such as “Dynamite” and “My Universe,” their collaboration with Coldplay. They were nominated across five categories overall but left the ceremonies without a Grammy.
The 69th Grammys will consider recordings released between Aug. 31 last year and Aug. 28 this year. Nominations will be announced on Nov. 16. BTS is expected to submit their fifth album ARIRANG and its title track “Swim” in multiple categories. The seven members, along with HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk and producer Pdogg, are eligible to vote.
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